Intuitive Surgical Beats Forecasts as Procedures with Its Da Vinci Robot Rose

Intuitive Surgical Inc. (ISRG), the maker of the da Vinci surgical robot, posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, with demand for non-invasive operations increasing.

Shares in the company, which also filed for regulatory approval of its next-generation platform, the da Vinci 5, jumped to a new record high of $384 in early trading Wednesday before giving back those gains. The stock was down 0.6% at $369.16 at around 2:25 p.m. ET.

Late Tuesday, Intuitive reported fourth-quarter earnings per share (EPS) of $1.60, with revenue gaining almost 17% to $1.93 billion. Both were above forecasts.

Intuitive noted that da Vinci procedures worldwide grew 21%, and it placed 415 of the systems in the quarter, up from 369 in the same quarter the year before. It had 8,606 installed as of Dec. 31, 2023, an increase of 14% year-over-year (YOY).

The company said it didn’t experience any surgical disruptions caused by COVID-19 in the latest quarter, as it reported about the fourth-quarter 2022 outbreak in China that reduced da Vinci procedures there then.

Chief Executive Officer Gary Guthart said in an earnings call with analysts that the past year “was a good one” for Intuitive, with da Vinci procedures growing by 22%, and that he is optimistic about 2024. However, Treasurer Brian King warned that a potential decline in bariatric procedures and “challenges” in China could affect results.